Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® today announced that its sizzling Aloft brand is ramping up portfolio growth in California with a new hotel planned for Rancho Bernardo, an upscale community in San Diego North.

Owned by HP Investors, LLC and managed by Azul Hospitality Group, Aloft Rancho Bernardo will be the sixth property in California when it opens in mid-2016. The new-build Aloft will feature over 140 spacious, loft-like rooms, state-of-the-art meeting space and a buzzing, social atmosphere.

“Aloft Rancho Bernardo will be a great match for this bustling, high-tech hub and likely emerge as a leading choice among savvy travelers and young professionals with its distinctive design aesthetic and lively social scene,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Aloft expects to reach the 100th hotel milestone within the next year, fueled by its loyal following among next gen travelers worldwide.”

A short ride from downtown San Diego and the San Diego International Airport (SAN), the new Aloft will be situated at the entrance of theRancho Bernardo corporate park, home to the regional offices for Sony, Hewlett-Packard, BAE Systems, Northrup Grumman, Teradata, Cymer,Millennium Laboratories, and many other companies. Guests will be close to several golf courses, the Bernardo Winery, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, shopping areas and outdoor recreation. Aloft Rancho Bernardo will offer more than 3,000 square feet of market-leading meeting space, a rooftop “Splash” pool, fitness center and underground parking.

“Aloft Rancho Bernardo will energize the mid-market category in this fast-growing area,” said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of America Development for Starwood. “Aloft offers an experience that is different by design and is proliferating in markets across North America, driven by its popularity among youthful-minded travelers.”

Aloft’s innovative and exclusive initiatives set it apart – from technology-forward Smart Check-In, the only mobile check in that allows guests to completely bypass the front desk, to its design-led focus, including a recent exclusive partnership with Design Within Reach (DWR), and the Live at Aloft Hotels music programming in the W XYZ™ bar – Aloft delivers an authentic and vibrant guest experience.